Location
  • Thailand
    • Bangkok
    • Chiang Mai
    • Khon Kaen
    • Chiang Rai
Length
12 - 52 weeks
Classroom Audience
Early Childhood Elementary Middle School High School University Students
Payment plans

Program Details

Qualifications
  • Native-level English fluency
  • Bachelor’s degree in any field
  • Citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom
  • Must be 50 years of age or younger
Classroom Audience
Early Childhood Elementary Middle School High School University Students
Housing
Apartment
Age Min.
20
Age Max
50

Pricing

Salary / Benefits
Participants earn at least 30,000 baht and up to 43,000 baht per month and receive free, furnished accommodation. Teaching experience required for the highest salaries.

Starting Price
1950
Price Details
Our program includes:

Guaranteed Job Placement - Receive full details about city, school, and housing well before arrival
Hands-on Guidance with document and visa prep
Community - Meet new friends at orientation in Thailand and online before arrival
Practical and Cultural Advice - Feel prepared with our extensive resources on topics like banking, cell phones, and Thai workplace norms
Four-Day Orientation in Bangkok - enjoy cultural activities, intro language lessons, delicious food, and hotel stay
Local Transport from orientation to your school
Experienced Advisors - Before you go, CIEE staff are available by phone, text, and email to provide clear instructions and individual attention
Schools Provide Rent-Free Housing
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Airport Transfers Some Meals Travel Insurance
What's Included (Extra)

Multi-day Orientation in Bangkok

What's Not Included
Airfare Visa
Sep 11, 2024
Dec 19, 2024
96 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

CIEE's Teach in Thailand program places teachers in paid positions teaching English at public and private schools in locations all across this beautiful country for 6 or 12 month contracts.

With CIEE, you're guaranteed to receive your teaching placement and work visa BEFORE departure. This means you don't have to stress about finding a job or applying for a visa after arriving in Thailand. You'll know exactly where you are going to be teaching before confirming your participation on the program.

You'll connect with other CIEE teachers at orientation in Bangkok so you can build a network of new friends. Orientation includes hotel accommodation, meals, cultural activities, and intro Thai language lessons to ensure you'll be set up for success while teaching in Thailand!

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Guaranteed job placement and work visa prior to departure give you peace of mind!
  • Connect with other CIEE teachers and build a network of new friends
  • Hands-on Visa Guidance from CIEE experts
  • Orientation in Bangkok – including excursions, meals, and accommodation
  • Rent-free housing and competitive salary so you have money to travel

Program Reviews

4.84 Rating
based on 122 reviews
  • 5 rating 84.43%
  • 4 rating 14.75%
  • 3 rating 0.82%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Benefits 4.7
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.45
  • Facilities 4.35
  • Safety 4.9
Showing 25 - 32 of 122 reviews
Default avatar
Advaita
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Not what I expected

When I first received my placement I was a bit disappointed. Like the dozens of other applicants I had list my preferences for the south or by Bangkok. Instead, I was placed in a Nakhon Phanom, a small town in Northeast Thailand right on the border with Laos. I could not be happier with my placement. Here I was able to immerse myself fully into my role as an educator and apart of my Isan community. The unique placement allowed for a very special experience. My students, the residents and my co teachers quickly welcomed me into their tight knit family that only a small town could boast. Students quickly learned that I loved Thai food and would give me various snacks to try. Residents would see me in town and give me lifts when it was too hot for me to be walking. Or give free Hong Thong and take me to bars just after one meeting. Co teachers would literally come to my house to check in on me when sick. While I didn’t get to experience the hustle and bustle of Bangkok or the beautiful beaches, I got something much more meaningful and precious. I had a new family. I am so grateful for my placement in the Amazing Isan region.

What would you improve about this program?
Language instruction should be prioritized or at least a better resource compiled especially for those living in more remote areas.
111 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ryan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience Teaching in Northeastern Thailand

I taught with OEG for the second semester of the 2018 school year, and OEG was, and still continues to be even a year after my employment with them, a fantastic resource for interfacing with the infamously bureaucratic Thai immigration system. Most recently, I've received help with employment documents relating to Thai immigration, and what is usually a never ending ordeal of paperwork has been made pretty simple on my end with their great approachability and responsiveness. Not to mention that this help is only necessary because I am teaching in Thailand again this year due to my first experience being so great.

For your first experience in Thailand, OEG is the perfect choice because they provide you with an orientation that gets you acquainted with other new teachers and support staff as well as the basics of Thai language and culture. Once you get to your school, OEG provides support which makes it easier to get the necessary documentation to stay and work in Thailand and their support staff, many of whom are teachers here as well, are extremely friendly and helpful with any questions you might have.

Managing your expectations for the school facilities in Thailand is important, but most schools, from what I've heard and in my personal experience, have the means to accommodate any teaching style with enough effort on the teacher's part. If you use PowerPoint in the classroom, computers and classroom projectors are quite common. You will always at least have a blackboard and chalk, but if you're placed in a city you'll almost certainly have more. The school I was placed at had TVs in the classroom as well as a whiteboard and projector, and even air conditioning in most of the classrooms.

Overall I completely recommend this program and had nothing but good experiences in regards to everything OEG provided. If you want to teach abroad and haven't dealt with the Thai employment system before, doing this program is undeniably the best way to go. The initial cost is nothing compared to the information and experience it provides you with, and it makes your future trips abroad much easier to manage.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Keep an open mind about everything and forget about your cultural norms. Thailand is a unique place and being an "empty cup" here is the best way to get the most value out of it.

Also, prepare to be frustrated by random events and things being out of control. It happens daily.
116 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Madeline
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing experience

This is my second year teaching through CIEE (first Spain, now Thailand). and both times have been very positive experiences! They make the Visa process very easy and I received email responses extremely quickly for all my questions. Moving to Thailand can be very daunting but you are given extensive readings and cultural guides..not to mention a very intensive (but fun) orientation in Bangkok. The only down side is that you have no idea where you will be placed. You could be in the center of Bangkok, or 10 hours away from it. Every placement has its perks, and everyone's experiences are very different! Thailand is an incredible place and I can't wait to see what the rest of my time here brings.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
When I found out I was placed in the south with no other teachers from my orientation, I was very nervous. However, once I stopped comparing my situation with my friends' situations, I was able to fully embrace the uniqueness of my placement!
110 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you for your review, Madeline! So glad to hear that you had positive experiences with CIEE in Spain and Thailand. Remembering that everyone has unique experiences is so important when moving through life and teaching abroad- great reminder!

Thank you,
CIEE's Teach Abroad Team

Default avatar
Cate
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Just apply already!

Creating a new life halfway around the world may seem overwhelming and terrifying to some, but the constant support of CIEE helped my transition to be smooth and so worthwhile. This program helped me to step out of my comfort zone in making new connections and putting me in situations I never thought I would be able to accept. I ended up quickly falling in love with Thailand and I cannot thank CIEE enough for that. If you are considering this program even the slightest, stop thinking about it and send in the application! I promise it will be the best adventure yet.

Now, six months into the program, it is crazy to think how far I have come. I live two hours east of Bangkok in a rural town called Prachinburi. I am at the point where my favorite restaurant knows my meal by heart, students are constantly running up to me at the local market, and I know the ins and outs of the roads. A place that was so unfamiliar and unknown has now become my “home”. Partnering with CIEE has been so incredible and I can only encourage others to make the leap.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
If coming to Thailand, you'll quickly learn the phrase, "mai pen rai" - a go with the flow attitude. Say yes to everything you come across and cherish every moment. It is pretty crazy how fast life goes by when you are abroad. Take Muay Thai classes and eat that scary looking thing on the plate - it turns out to be pretty good! Enjoy all the laughs and forget about all little things because life in Thailand is truly beautiful! Your life is about to be the craziest adventure!!
118 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Hi Cate,

Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled you are having a blast and cherishing your time in Thailand. Keep up the great work!

The CIEE Teach Abroad Team

Default avatar
Ginette
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Incredible Experience

Thank you OEG for providing me with this incredible experience. I love my school, made incredible connections with my students/coworkers, and was able to enjoy the culture of my town. OEG set me up for success while providing support along the way. I never really needed it because I was so enveloped in falling in love with Thailand, but they clearly care for every participant of the program and are there if you need them. The orientation period fosters connections with like-minded people; people who I will probably stay in touch with for a long time. If you are open-minded and ready for an incredible cultural and personal experience, I highly suggest teaching in Thailand through OEG.
I spent a year in Thailand and am State-side now, but this program and Thailand itself made it very difficult to leave. I definitely left a part of my heart in Thailand!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
My advice for future travelers is to be open and flexible to new experiences. If you are coming from a Western culture, you may be a little shocked at Asian culture at first. So many things are different, but beautifully different. Embrace the challenges around you, grow as you overcome them, and allow yourself to be open to these new experiences that may change you in the best possible ways.
118 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Hi Ginette,

We are thrilled you are enjoying your time in Thailand with CIEE and our partners OEG! It sounds like you are having some amazing experiences and learning a lot along the way. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review!

The CIEE Teach Abroad Team

Default avatar
Matthew
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teach in Thailand

Teaching in Thailand was an awesome experience. It was scary at first immersing myself in a new culture but that was my main goal. You have to get a little uncomfortable to grow and that’s exactly what I did. I was placed in a rural area 3.5 hrs north of Bangkok and I couldn’t be happier. Being located where I was gave me the opportunity to get a real Thai experience. Unlike many other foreign teachers, I wasn’t traveling every weekend. I did occasionally travel on school holiday and what not but traveling every weekend seemed exhausting to me. Instead I go to know the locals, made friends with my co-teachers and even hung out with my students on the weekend.
The food is amazing in Thailand and so are the people. Most of the people I met were extremely friendly!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The most nerve racking moment for me was my first day of class. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I was pretty scared! Once I got in front of the class my emotions eased and things became a lot easier.
111 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Hi Matthew,

We are glad to hear that teaching in Thailand was a wonderful experience for you! It's great you were able to immerse yourself in your Thai community and make Thai friends. Thank you for leaving a review!

The CIEE Teach Abroad Team

Default avatar
Jeanine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Teaching in Thailand

I am currently participating in the CIEE Teach in Thailand Program. Coming to Thailand to teach is one of the best decisions I've made! It's an incredible opportunity to get out of your comfort zone, experience an entirely different culture, learn about yourself and the world, and make a positive impact. And you get to do it in such a beautiful country with the friendliest local people!

CIEE makes the process of teaching here so much easier than trying to do it on your own as they provide step by step guides and lists of everything you will need. They're also always willing to help, you just have to send them a quick email. There is an orientation when you arrive in Thailand to help you prepare for your journey as well as an opportunity to makes friends with others who will be teaching throughout the country. I cannot recommend this program enough!

What would you improve about this program?
I am very happy with this program and my placement.
105 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Jeanine,

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review about your experience in Thailand. We are so happy to hear that you are enjoying your time teaching and that you feel supported by CIEE!

Thank you again,
The CIEE Teach Abroad Team

Default avatar
Crystina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My First Three Months in Thailand

I arrived in Thailand in May 2019 and was determined to overcome any differences and have a positive attitude. Looking back at that first month, I see that was the necessary attitude to have. Yes, things will be challenging at times. Overall, your perspective will open and your good energy will invite all sorts of fun to come your way. I have so many friends now from all over the world. I adore my co-workers from the US and Canada. We're a like-minded group and we have lots of fun together. I adore my Thai and Chinese co-workers too. Most of all, the students warm my heart. They are so gracious and kind. They treat me with respect and listen to my lessons. They're very smart too. I'm teaching what translates to junior high school in the US. Furthermore, I'm teaching science in an English Program at a public school in Central Thailand. We're close enough to go to Bangkok as a day trip and even closer to the marvelous old city of Ayutthaya. I value my time here because I know that I'll be sad to leave after my year is over, but look forward to a new adventure in Spain with CIEE. I am happy to have chosen CIEE because they set up everything for me. I was placed in a nice apartment that's next-door to my school. I had my visa and all documents handled. I had immediate support and training once I arrived in Thailand. CIEE even took us on fun excursions and threw us a great karaoke party. All of their staff members were helpful and polite. I recommend both CIEE and the deeply-historic nation of Thailand.

What would you improve about this program?
I really like the CIEE program and the support offered was worth the cost. At first, I thought I could find employment on my own. I tried that, ended up making four round-trip drives to LA to the Chinese Consulate (driving 500 miles each time), waiting in line for hours, and ultimately not getting my paperwork approved. I had my university diploma, my TEFL certificate and no criminal record. Still, I could not get approved to work in China. Then I found CIEE, and I'm so glad I did. I am very, very happy in Thailand.
105 people found this review helpful.
Response from CIEE Teach Abroad & TEFL

Thank you, Crystina!

It's wonderful to hear that you feel supported on the program and that you have been making memories with your new students, co-workers, and friends. We hope you continue to have a great time on the program!

Thank you!
The CIEE Teach Abroad Team

Questions & Answers

We currently provide the same level of visa support to all Teach in Thailand participants and only offer one program.

It varies depending on where your school placement is. Many teachers are in studio apartments in the same apartment complex as other foreign teachers. I've also heard of shared houses or apartments, always with your own room though!

Unfortunately due to the nature of this particular program you must sign up for either 6 months or a year. But there are plenty of other volunteer organizations that would be happy to have you come volunteer for two weeks!